Device for honing cylindrical surfaces



Aug. 27, 1940. H. s. INDGE DEVICE FOR HONING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES FiledOct. 22, 1958 Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES DEVICE FOR HONINGCYLINDRICAL SURFACES Herbert S. Indge, Westboro, Mass., assignor toNorton Company, Worcester, Mass., at corporation of MassachusettsApplication October 22, 1938, Serial No. 236,481

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for honing cylindrical surfaces andparticularly to a device which serves to move the abrasive sticks over awork surface with a reciprocatory and revolvable movement.

The operation 0f honing a work piece requires that a set of abrasivesticks-be so mounted that they will make linear contact with the workparallel with its axis and may be revolved about the Work axis whilereciprocated parallel therewith. The honing operation is intended toprovide a finished and a smooth surface, and it is desirable that theabrasive sticks be so mounted that they may be adjusted accurately intoabrading contact with the work and with an equalized pressure at theiropposite ends. For certain types of honing operations it is alsodesirable that these abrasive sticks be held under a constant pressureagainst the work as the honing operation proceeds. This honing pressuremay be obtained by means of fluid pressure mechanism which is soconnected with the abrasive sticks that they may be moved under equalpressure against the work. I I

The primary object of this invention is to provide a honing headembodying a fluid pressure mechanism for actuating and adjusting theabrasive sticks and which is so connected therewith that all of thesticks may be held properly against the work with an equalized pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which willserve to move the opposite ends of all of the sticks equally.

A further object of the invention is to provide a honing head havingabrasive sticks mounted for radial movement thereon, which is soconstructed and arranged that the sticks may be moved radially by afluid pressure actuated piston so connected therewith that movement ofthe piston in one direction causes an equalized movement of both ends ofeach of the abrasive sticks. Further objects will be apparent in thefollowing disclosure.

In accordance with my invention, I have provided a honing devicecomprising a rotary and reciprocatory support having a set of abrasivesticks mounted thereon for radial movement by means of a suitablyactuated member, and preferably a fluid pressure actuated piston, whichis connected to move one end of each of the abrasive sticks directlyandwhich in turn actuates through an intermediate mechanism a furthermember connected to move the opposite ends of the sticks. Thisintermediate mechanism may comprise two wedge blocks mechanicallyconnected by a rack bar and a common pinion so that positive movement ofone block causes an equal opposed movement of the other; and these wedgeblocks are so associated with beveled surfaces on the abrasive stickholders as to move 5 the latter radially.

In the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of thisinvention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my honing device as mounted for rotationand reciprocation on a honing machine;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In the construction illustrated, the device comprises honing or abrasivesticks IU of suitable or standard construction which are mounted in 15metal holders !2 and removably held in place on the lower end of arevoluble and reciprocatcry honing head. The honing sticks may be madeof suitable abrasives, such as silicon carbide or crystalline aluminagrains, which are cemented 39 together by standard bonds, such asvitrified ceramic materials, rubber or synthetic resins and the like.The abrasive sticks may be cemented or soldered in the holders E2 orotherwise secured in place. gs

The head or support which carries the honing sticks comprises acylindrical body 56 expanded at its lower end to form a chamber withinwhich is mounted the mechanism that serves for moving the honing sticksradially outwardly. The rear side of the stick carrier i2 is dovetailedat l8 so as to interfit slidably with a shoe 20 and be thus rigidlyconnected thereto during normal use, but which permits replacement of aworn out stick. The shoe 20 is cut away at its central 5, portion toprovide two opposed beveled or wedge shaped portions 28 which are shapedsomewhat as parts of a cylindrical surface. These are engaged by thewedge shaped surfaces of two truncated cones or wedge blocks 26 and 26which are adapted to be moved towards and from each other while inengagement with the beveled shoes 2t and thus to move them inwardly andoutwardly.

The two spaced wedges 28 are narrow and pro- 45 ject through narrowspaced slots 30 in the cylindrical casing l6 separated by a part 32 ofthe casing which forms an annular ring acting as a guide for the shoes.The slots 30 are spaced at 90 from each other; and four of the shoes 285 are mounted therein and held in place by means of a pair of helicalsprings 34 which surround the lugs 36 projecting outwardly from the endsof each of the metal holders l2 that carry the abrasive sticks. Thesesprings are under tension and thus tend to hold the abrasive blocks intheir innermost radial positions away from the surrounding internalcylindrical surface of a piece of work.

In the construction illustrated, the upper wedge block 48 is positivelymoved and it in turn directly moves the upper ends of the abrasivesticks when thrust downwardly. In order to equalize the pressure on theupper and lower ends of each of the abrasive honing sticks, I haveprovided mechanism connecting the two wedge blocks 24 and 26 so thatmovement of one causes an equal and opposed movement of the other. Thismay comprise two rack bars 40 and 42 meshing with a common pinion Nmounted on a shaft 46 which projects into cylindrical bearing holes inthe ring 32. The upper cone 2% forms a continuation of a movable plunger40. The lower cone 26 is similarly a continuation of the plunger 50.These plungers 48 and 50 are cylindrical in shape and are mounted forsliding movement within the inner cylindrical surface of the housing IS.The cylinder I6 is open at its lower end, thus permitting free movementof these plunger members. Upward movement of the plunger 48 is, however,limited by a shoulder 52 on the housing. The rack bar 40 is attached tothe upper piston member 48 and its lower end slides freely in a slot 3within the piston member 50. Similarly, the rack bar $2 is attached tothe lower piston member 50 and its upper end slides freely in a slot 56in the upper piston member 48.

The upper piston member is arranged to be actuated by a rod 60 screwthreaded thereto which is moved vertically up and down as required. Itwill, therefore, be seen that when the member 00 descends and carriesits rack bar 40 downwardly, the pinion M is rotated and causes the rackbar 42 and its piston 50 to move upwardly. Thus, when the upper cone orwedge block 24 moves downwardly and thrusts the upper end of the wedgeshoe 20 outwardly, similarly the lower cone 26 moves upwardly andthrusts against the lower portion of the shoe and causes it to moveoutwardly to the same extent that the upper one moves. Hence, themovements of the two ends of the abrasive stick are equalized.

The vertical movement of the rod 60 is preferably effected by a fluidpressure mechanism, which comprises a vertically movable piston 64 heldin an uppermost position by means of a spring 66. This piston isslidable within the hollow cylinder casing 68. This casing 60 isthreaded into a cap I0 which has integrally connected therewith a ballI2 forming part of a ball and socket joint connecting the pistoncylinder with the housing I6. The upper end of the housing I6 is shapedat M to fit against the ball I2. Also a split sleeve 16 has a similarlyshaped partial spherical surface engaging the upper portion of the ball.The two halves of the sleeve have integral projecting lugs I8interfltting with a groove in the casing I6, and the two sleeve partsare held in place by means of a collar 80 secured to the housing I6 bycap screws. Thus, the lower honing head is pivotally secured on theupper cylinder 68 which forms the piston cylinder casing. Two pins 82are secured in the two halves of the ball I2 as shown, and their outerends project somewhat within the spaces 84 inside of the split sleeveI6, thus permitting only a very slight rocking motion of the lower headdue to the pins 82 striking the upper or lower adjacent surfaces ofthese split sleeve portions.

The piston 64 is suitably secured to a piston rod 86 and the latterpasses slidably through the cap and ball 12 of the ball and socketjoint. The lower end of this piston 86 is connected by a suitableuniversal joint 88 with the vertically movable rod 60. Sufficientfreedom of motion is thus provided to permit a slight out of alignmentof the various parts.

The piston chamber 90 is formed between the piston 64 and its packingand an upper cylinder head 92. Fluid under pressure, such as compressedair or water or oil, may be admitted into the piston chamber 90 throughan annular port 94 formed on the inside of a collar 98 and communicatingthrough ports with the cylinder chamber. The pipe 96 which communicateswith the annular port 94 is screw threaded into the stationary collar 98and secured in position on the outside of the casing by means of a lowercollar I00 that is held thereto by a set screw. The collar 98 makes aslidable fit with the outer cylindrical surface of the casing, so thatthe latter may rotate freely within the collar as it reciprocates up anddown. The pipe 96 is attached to a flexible hose I02 through which fluidunder pressure from any suitable source is caused to flow, and a valve604 may be provided which controls the flow of fluid to the pistoncasing. The pipe 96 passes through a block I06 which projects outwardlyfrom a collar I08 slidably mounted on a guide bar H0 that is secured bymeans of a universal joint II2 to the framework H6 of the honingmachine. Thus the fluid pressure connections may reciprocate verticallywith the honing head as it moves up and down.

This mechanism is adapted to be attached to any suitable type of honingmachine on the market which provides the reciprocatory and rotarymotions required for the abrading operations. This comprises a spindle Isuitably mounted within a bearing I 26 In the machine, and provision ismade for positively rotating and reciprocating that member I20, as iswell understood im the art. The honing head is removably secured to thisrotated and reciprocated member I20 by a device which comprises auniversal joint I24 of the same general construction as the ball andsocket joint formed by the ball I2 and associated parts. The upper endsurface I26 of the cylindrical casing 68 forms a seat for the ball I28which is formed integrally on a tapered member I30 making a tight fitwithin the inner tapered hole of the rotating member I20. The upperportion of the socket is formed by the inwardly projecting flanged endsof the split sleeve I32 shaped to flt against the ball and held in placeby the collar I34 attached to the top of the casing I36 by a set screwas illustrated The operation of the device will be apparent. After thehoning head has been properly positioned relative to the work piece,which is suitably held in a stationary position, then compressed air orother fluid, such as oil, under a suitable pressure is admitted to thepiston chamber. This forces the rod 60 and upper wedge block 24downwardly and causes the upper portion of each abrasive stick to moveoutwardly. Simultaneously the rack bar mechanism causes the lower wedgeblock 26 to move upwardly to of the abrasive sticks outwardly. Ifcompressed air is used, the sticks are held against the work with someresiliency. If desired, the valve I04 may be closed after the pressurehas been applied and thus allow more of a dying out out due to theslight decrease of pressure as the wedge blocks move to take up'for wearof the work and the sticks.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made in theconstruction within the scope of this invention. For example, the rod 60may .be moved by various types of mechanical devices other than a fluidpressure mechanism, and it may be connected to be adjusted solely byhand; and the rack bars and pinion will serve equally well to cause theequalized movement of the op posite ends of the sticks. However, thefluid pressure actuating mechanism is preferred because of thesimplicity of construction involved, and particularly since it may serveto hold the sticks under a uniform pressure against the work, whereas amere mechanical adjustment does not provide a follow up pressure andprovides only a dying out out. Also, this mechanism may be arranged tomove abrasive sticks inwardly, instead of outwardly, so as to hone anexternal cylindrical surface. Other changes may be made in thisconstruction in the substitution of equivalent mechanisms for thoseillustrated and described. Hence, the above description is to beconsidered as being illustrative of the principles of the invention anda preferred embodiment but not as limiting the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

I claim:

1. A honing head comprising a head arranged to be mounted for a rotaryand reciprocatory motion, a set-oi abrasive sticks mounted thereon -forradial movement, two wedge blocks mounted for opposed movement axiallyof the head, means connecting the same whereby movement of one block inone direction causes an equal and opposite movement of the other wedgeblock, means connecting said blocks with the abrasive sticks wherebymovement of the blocks adjusts the sticks radially with an equalizedmotion, and fluid pressure actuated mechanism on the head connected tomove one of said wedge blocks.

2. A honing device comprising a head arranged to be mounted for a rotaryand reciprocatory motion, a set of abrasive sticks mounted thereon iorradial movement, means including two opposed wedge blocks movable inopposite directions which moves the sticks radially, means includingrack bars and a common pinion which causes the two wedge blocks to movesimultaneously in opposite directions, and fluid pressure mechanism tomove one of the wedge blocks and thereby cause an equalized movement ofthe sticks.

3. A honing head comprising a head arranged for a rotary andreciprocatory motion, a set of abrasive sticks mounted thereon forradial movement, a holder for each stick having a pair of opposedbeveled surfaces, two wedge blocks contacting with said beveled surfacesand mounted for opposed movement to move the holders and sticksradially, means including rack bars and a common pinion connecting thewedge blocks so that movement of one block in one direction causes anequal and opposed movement of the other, and a fluid pressure mechanismconnected to move one of said wedge blocks, whereby an equalizedmovement of the abrasive sticks is produced.

4. A honing device comprising a head arranged to be mounted for a rotaryand reciprocatory motion, a set of abrasive sticks mounted thereon forradial movement, means including two independently mounted wedges andpositively acting, mechanical connections between said wedges wherebythe abrasive sticks may be adjusted radially with an equalized movementat their opposite ends and fluid pressure mechanism connected to movesaid wedges and cause movement of the sticks during use thereof.

5. A honing device comprising a head arranged for a reciprocatory androtary motion, a plurality of abrasive sticks mounted thereon for radialmovement, two oppositely movable wedges, a rack bar connected to eachwedge, a common pinion for the rack bars arranged to insure an equal 0and opposite movement of the rack bars and wedges, means operated by thewedges for simultaneously moving the opposite ends of the sticksradially, one wedge moving one end and the other wedge the other end ofeach stick, and a means for moving one of the wedges and thereby causingan equal adjustment of the opposite ends of the sticks.

'1 B. INDGE.

